Travel advice for Mexico
From travel safety to visa requirements, discover the best tips for traveling to Mexico
Book your individual trip, stress-free with local travel experts
written by Kirsten Powley
updated 12.07.2019
First, you've got to get the positioning right. Fold that small but crammed mini-plate up into a delicious morsel and keep a hold of it. Firm, but not too firm. Then it's attack mode, as you cram it into your mouth and feel the inevitable trickle of sauce down your arm (just embrace it, you've got this). Eating a taco isn't the most elegant of ventures, but always worth the potential embarrassment. There's been an explosion in taco love in recent times, with Taco Tuesday a now-standard concept and authentic Mexican taquerias opening up all over the world. So imagine what you can find if you make the pilgrimage to Mexico itself, in search of the best tacos in the Yucatán. Well, that's what we did - and here's what we found.
17 days / from1590 USD
The Magic of the Yucatan and Mexico City
Explore the magic of the Yucatan Peninsula: from colonial towns like Merida to Archaeological sites like Uxmal and Calakmul, close to the Guatemala border, to beaches in Bacalar and Tulum, this itinerary shows you the real Yucatan before heading out to explore Mexico City.
view tour ⤍15 days / from1430 USD
Mexico City, Oaxaca & the Yucatan
Explore Central Mexico with its ever-busy capital Mexico City, visiting Teotihuacan and the famous museums in the city. Further on to Oaxaca City, the gateway to the Archaeological Site Monte Alban. Afterwards, continue to the white beaches of the Yucatan: Cancun and Isla Holbox await.
view tour ⤍18 days / from1735 USD
Fascinating Mexico: From Guanajuato to the Yucatan
Discover Mexico from fascinating San Miguel de Allende over busy Mexico City all the way to the Yucatan Peninsula. This itinerary combines public transportation with domestic flights to ensure you can make the most of discovering fascinating Mexico within two weeks.
view tour ⤍18 days / from2190 USD
Marvelous Mexico: From Yucatan to Mexico City
Your trip starts on the wonderful coast of Yucatan, exploring the beaches and archaeological highlights like Chichen Itza and Tulum. From there on continue the exploration to Palenque and Oaxaca before taking a flight to Mexico City - 3 days in the capital await your discovery.
view tour ⤍10 days / from2147 USD
Mexico's Highlands and Coast
Discover Mexico City's historic highlights and the wonders of sites like Teotihuacan, Campeche and Palenque before you jet off to the Central HIghlands. Discover archeological ruins and traditional tribal villages, then fall for the charms of Mexico's old colonial cities and glitzy Caribbean coast.
view tour ⤍7 days / from1499 USD
Mexico's Mayan Trail
Follow the Mayan Trail around Mexico on this archaeological adventure. Begin your journey with a refreshing taste of sea and salt air in the Yucatán Peninsula on one of Playa del Carmen's gorgeous Caribbean beaches before heading off to discover magical Mayan ruins and glorious colonial towns.
view tour ⤍12 days / from3057 USD
Magnificent Mexico and Mayan Treasures
From Mexico City down to the southern state of Oaxaca, this trip packs in all of Mexico's colonial charms and archeological wonders. You'll also get to take to the beach at Playa del Carmen, swim in the Caribbean Sea and under cascading waterfalls and boat along lovely Sumidero Canyon.
view tour ⤍7 days / from1518 USD
Mexico's Churros and Chiapas
Arrive in exciting Mexico City and get a taste of its surprising charms, imposing plazas and beautiful colonial old town. Then jet off to Chiapas where you'll spend your days exploring canyons, waterfalls and national parks. Then finish with a dose of Mayan culture deep in the jungle at Palenque.
view tour ⤍10 days / from890 USD
Los Cabos Self Drive
Take your rental car and explore the beaches and islands of Cabo. Located in Baja California Sur, Los Cabos, Todos Santos, and Cabo San Lucas do not only have excellent beaches to offer for your exploration but also a fascinating wildlife.
view tour ⤍15 days / from1450 USD
From Mexico City over Chiapas to Cancun: The Best of Mexico
This itinerary combines the metropolitan glamour of Mexico City with its fabulous museums and pyramids with an outdoor adventure in Chiapas visiting the Sumidero Canyon and the fascinating wildlife and cultural heritage of the Yucatan. Two weeks showing you the true highlights of Mexico!
view tour ⤍9 days / from1670 USD
Mayan Heritage Tour in Yucatan
Yucatán is calling you, and this trip is the way to do it; go into the jungle and know it like no one else has ever known it; enjoy incredible food, beautiful sunsets, and the warmth of its communities that will do everything possible to offer you a dream experience. Are you ready?
view tour ⤍8 days / from1516 USD
Mexico City to the Yucatán
Enjoy a whirlwind tour of Mexico City, taking in the museums, churches and colonial plazas of Mexico's vibrant capital. Then relax on Playa del Carmen's Caribbean beaches before you take off to explore some of the country's most amazing archeological treasures.
view tour ⤍10 days / from2307 USD
Mexico's Nature and Beaches
Explore the nature and wildlife of Chiapas and Tabasco by visiting the Sumidero Canyon and Agua Azul waterfalls before heading off to the Yucatan Peninsula: Chichen Itza awaits to impress you with its magnificent pyramids before ending the trip at the white beaches of Holbox.
view tour ⤍14 days / from1350 USD
Chiapas, Tabasco, Yucatan: Explore the Eastern Highlights
Explore the wide depths of Sumidero Canyon in Chiapas, the fascinating archaeological site of Palenque in Tabasco before moving on to the Yucatan to explore Merida, Chichen Itza and the peaceful island of Cozumel. This itinerary offers adventure and relaxation in 14 days.
view tour ⤍20 days / from1280 USD
Discovering Central Mexico: from Guanajuato to Oaxaca
With this itinerary, you will get to know the real Mexico: from magic towns to archaeological sites all the way down to the beautiful beaches of Huatulco - this itinerary combines history, cuisine, and relaxation, all compactly available in a 3-week trip.
view tour ⤍21 days / from1490 USD
Enchanting Mexico: from the capital to the beaches
Discover Mexico's capital before heading to your first Mexican beach: Puerto Escondido. After some days relaxing in the sun, head to Cancun to pick up your rental car and explore the Yucatan Peninsula in your own car. From archaeological sites to stunning beaches, the peninsula awaits.
view tour ⤍11 days / from2415 USD
Culture & Jungle in Chiapas
Get ready for an adventure through Chiapas with hosts who are prepared to welcome you and discover the natural beauty of canyons, waterfalls, lakes, and rivers! The magnificent archaeological sites will amaze you as well as the charming towns.
view tour ⤍16 days / from1850 USD
Mexico City and the Yucatan - from the city to the beaches
Take this trip to explore the best of Mexico City: From the museums to the pyramids of Teotihuacán. Afterwards continue to Merida to explore the famous Pink Lake and the Haciendas of the Yucatan. At the ed, take your time relaxing on the beaches in Playa del Carmen and Cancun.
view tour ⤍7 days / from925 USD
Authentic and unique Mexico City
Mexico City seems to have it all - over 50 museums, a beautiful historic city center, an extensive city park with a majestic castle, upscale neighborhoods like La Condesa or La Roma, bohemian Coyoacan and mouth-watering cuisine. This trip shows you the best of this mega city.
view tour ⤍7 days / from590 USD
Mexico City Explored
Mexico City is one of the most fascinating cities in North America. This week-long itinerary grants you an insight to the museums, restaurants, and events in the capital, as well as exploring surrounding cities such as Taxco or Puebla. Get ready for a true Mexican adventure!
view tour ⤍12 days / from3405 USD
Mexico's Tomb Raider Experience
Explore the caves, cenotes, pyramids, and beaches of the Yucatan Peninsula. Inspired by the famous Tomb Raider video game, this itinerary takes you exploring across the pyramids of Chichen Itza, Ek Balam, and Coba, before relaxing at the white beaches of Cozumel.
view tour ⤍10 days / from1695 USD
Oaxacan Coast Adventure
Adventure awaits you on this trip to the Oaxacan coast, a place as spectacular as the activities you will do. From a boat trip to the beautiful bays of Huatulco to a warm horseback ride on the seashore in Puerto Escondido. Enjoy freedom of traveling with your own rental car.
view tour ⤍12 days / from850 USD
The Gems of Yucatan - a Self Drive Trip
Go at your own pace and discover the Peninsula de Yucatan with its many archaeological sites, its colonial villages, and stunning beaches. Having your own car allows you the maximum freedom to explore and the easy road access makes driving yourself a breeze.
view tour ⤍11 days / from2846 USD
Amazing Mexico
This 11-day trip takes you from Mexico City, where you will enjoy the La Merced Market to Merida where you can discover Maya ruins...with more adventure along the way, such as Hierve el agua where nature will surprise you and Oaxaca city a great cosy UNESCO World Heritage City.
view tour ⤍7 days / from2251 USD
Baja: Pacific Coast Paradise
Baja California is an off-the-beaten-track unspoiled paradise. The area is home to mountains, deserts and thousands of kilometers of gorgeous Pacific coastline. Come here to explore, snorkel, dive or do a spot of whale watching (in season). Otherwise, sit back and relax on its soft sandy shores.
view tour ⤍9 days / from1475 USD
Taste of Mexico
Discover the most unique places in Mexico City before heading out to Puebla and Oaxaca, tasting the best Mexico has to offer: mole poblano, chocolate, a corn workshop - this is a hands-on tour, showing the variety Mexico has to offer, both in food and culture wise.
view tour ⤍8 days / from2230 USD
Small Group Tour: Yucatán Off the Beaten Path
This is a trip immersed in Maya culture, considering visits to essential places, accommodations in different Maya communities, and cultural and outdoor sports activities. Trip starts February 1st & April 29, 2024 - prefer to do this trip in private? Send us a request for individual pricing.
view tour ⤍9 days / from3035 USD
Mayan Heritage on the Yucatan Peninsula
Embark on a Yucatan self-drive adventure, blending renowned treasures like Tulum and Chichen Itza with hidden gems. Wander off the beaten track to discover local communities, engaging in community-based experiences. Delve into Mayan culture, sample authentic cuisine, and explore the region.
view tour ⤍7 days / from1800 USD
Immersive Mexico City
Discover the vibrant heart of Mexico City in 7 unforgettable days. A stroll through historic downtown, explore colorful markets, and savor delicious street food. Day trips to Teotihuacan's ancient pyramids and Chapultepec Park's museums offer cultural enrichment.
view tour ⤍10 days / from3275 USD
Flavours of Central Mexico
Start in Mexico City, exploring its rich history and vibrant markets. Journey to Cholula to uncover ancient pyramids and partake in cooking classes. Conclude in Oaxaca, where you'll dive deep into local markets and culinary traditions, forging unforgettable memories.
view tour ⤍12 days / from3140 USD
Authentic Mexico City & Yucatan Peninsula
Start your trip in fascinating Mexico City - special views guaranteed during your hot air balloon ride over Teotihuacan. Continue to the Yucatan Peninsula with Merida, Valladolid, the famous Chichen Itza site and then to the dreamy beaches of Puerto Morelos. This trip has it all.
view tour ⤍Just like any country, the states within Mexico have their own characteristics, personalities and flavours. The Yucatan Peninsula might be famous for its inviting beaches and Mayan ruins – with Chichen Itza and Tulum's beaches the crowning glory – but the Yucatán's cuisine is also worth sticking around for. A taco isn't just a taco, and no matter how many times you've been to Taco Bell, that will do you no favours here.
Lesson number one, and it could be hard one to learn for some out there: proper tacos have soft shells. In the Yucatán, you'll commonly come across corn tortillas, rather than the flour variety, and they'll be roughly the size of your palm - which is great when ordering as you can try multiple flavours. When it comes to sauces, salsa in any form will be pico de gallo (freshly chopped tomato, onion, jalapeño and coriander) often accompanied by optional spicy habanero sauce or salsa verde.
Don't leave without trying cochinita pibil, a taco filled with pulled pork that's been slow-roasted for hours, or tacos de pescado tikinxik, a fish taco in achiote sauce. Lastly, leave room for tacos al pastor, which is filled with spit-roasted pork and pineapple.
In the Yucatán, tacos are mostly eaten for breakfast or lunch. Smaller places like street food stall can often be closed by 2pm and stay closed until the next morning – so plan accordingly! A general rule of thumb is that small stands will close early, while restaurants that offer tacos may not open until 7pm.
Planning to visit the Yucatán? Get in touch! Our local experts are on hand to plan a book a fully personalised trip just for you.
Wayan'e is quite possibly the holy grail of tacos from the Yucatán, making its way into the hearts and stomachs of local people and tourists alike. There are around 30-40 different kinds of tacos to choose from, including local specialities like conchinita pibil and poc chuc – pork in a citrus marinade. Once you've ordered, watch as staff heat the tortilla and load it up then top it with fresh onions and black beans. They also serve delicious fruit juices, which if you brave the habanero salsa, will be a welcome relief! Wayan'e has two stand locations, in Colonia Mexico and the other in Colonia Aleman.
Praised as the best tacos in Tulum, Taqueria Honorio comes highly recommended by top chefs – expect tacos brimming with fillings. Again, the Yucatan speciality of cochinita pibil is a strong favourite. Make sure you go early – Honorio opens at 6 am, and once they sell out they close up shop. Although the place may look quite basic and nondescript with its flimsy roof, Honorio began as a simple stall and can now proudly claim itself as a restaurant. Each table is stocked with a range of condiments to adorn your already very flavourful taco.
If you prefer to eat your tacos for dinner (or for those who want tacos all-day long... we salute you!), Antojitos La Chiapaneca is for you – they serve some of the best tacos in the Yucatán and are only open in the evenings. You'll often have to wait for a table here, but it's worth it. Once you've got your tacos, take your plate to the centre of the restaurant where there are bowls filled with condiments and sauces. If you ever tire of tacos on your trip (hard to imagine), there's a big selection of other snacks like empanadas, panuchos (fried tortillas with beans and toppings) and salbutes (like panuchos but without the beans).
A firm favourite having been around for more than three decades, Marisqueria El Taco Loco in Chetumal is a place to be reckoned with. As the name suggests, the seafood choices here are not to be missed. The tacos most worthy of a mention are the camaron empanizado (breaded shrimp) taco and the fish taco a la mantequilla (sautéed in butter). Try their four-alarm habanero salsa to test your metal with spicy food. One wall of the restaurant is covered with a manatee mural, a nice homage to the manatee sanctuary in Chetumal Bay.
La Tía is the perfect taco stop for those looking for a delicious pick-me-up after a night out in Merida. Open from 3 am to 2 pm every day, whether you come for a late-night snack or an early lunch, you're guaranteed some of the best tacos in the Yucatán. As you may have guessed (it's a recurring theme for tacos here), the cochinita pibil tacos are knockout.
Top image: Cochinita pibil tacos © lunamarina/Shutterstock
written by Kirsten Powley
updated 12.07.2019
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From travel safety to visa requirements, discover the best tips for traveling to Mexico